King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, center, pictured at the Millionaire Club Charity.

King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, center, pictured at the Millionaire Club Charity.

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Hundreds of onlookers cheer as one of President Barack Obama's state wins appears on a projected TV screen on election night Tuesday, November 6, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Wash. Crowds flocked to return parties hosted by a number of bars in the area to wait out final ballot results. In addition to President Barack Obama's reelection, Referendum 74 and I-502 were both passed in Washington state. less

Hundreds of onlookers cheer as one of President Barack Obama's state wins appears on a projected TV screen on election night Tuesday, November 6, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Seattle, Wash. Crowds flocked to return ... more

Photo: JORDAN STEAD / THE EMERALD COLLECTIVE

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Can I still be filed from my job if pot is legalized and I smoke it?

Can I still be filed from my job if pot is legalized and I smoke it?

Photo: Josh Trujillo/seattlepi.com File

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Yes. If your employer wants to drug test you and you fail, you can be canned – whether it’s medical marijuana or not. Staff at the King County Law Library point to a 2011 state Supreme Court ruling that doesn’t prevent employers from firing medical marijuana users because of a positive drug test. less

Yes. If your employer wants to drug test you and you fail, you can be canned – whether it’s medical marijuana or not. Staff at the King County Law Library point to a 2011 state Supreme Court ruling that ... more

Photo: Josh Trujillo/seattlepi.com File

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Do the feds still prohibit marijuana? What happens if they object?

Do the feds still prohibit marijuana? What happens if they object?

Photo: Joe Dyer/seattlepi.com File

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The short answer: Yes, and it’s complicated. Seattlepi.com reporter Levi Pulkkinen covered this in a Nov. 7 story, and U.S. Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Emily Langlie noted the Justice Department will continue to enforce the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, which prohibits marijuana use. King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said he expects the Department of Justice will file a lawsuit and that it may go to the Supreme Court regarding whether a state can have a law that’s inconsistent with the federal Uniform Controlled Substances Act. less

Pretty much. City Attorney Pete Holmes has a policy of not filing charges for simple marijuana possession, and in 2003, Seattle voters passed an initiative making the investigation, arrest and prosecution of marijuana offenses the lowest law enforcement priority when the drug was intended for adult personal use. The combination of those explains why some people walk on downtown streets with a lit joint and aren’t worried, and that's also why there were no arrests for pot at Hempfest this year. less

Pretty much. City Attorney Pete Holmes has a policy of not filing charges for simple marijuana possession, and in 2003, Seattle voters passed an initiative making the investigation, arrest and prosecution of ... more

Photo: Joe Dyer/seattlepi.com File

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No way. Are marijuana arrests in Seattle really that rare?

No way. Are marijuana arrests in Seattle really that rare?

Photo: Josh Trujillo/seattlepi.com File

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In the first four months of 2011 about 6,500 incident reports were filed with the City Attorney’s Office. Marijuana was the reason for the contact in only six of those incidents, according to the mayor’s office. Only .09% of incident reports during this time period cite marijuana as the primary reason for a contact. Don’t believe this? Go walk around the Pike/Pine corridor. There’s plenty of weed – and more serious problems. less

In the first four months of 2011 about 6,500 incident reports were filed with the City Attorney’s Office. Marijuana was the reason for the contact in only six of those incidents, according to the mayor’s ... more

Photo: Josh Trujillo/seattlepi.com File

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How much medical marijuana can someone legally have? Will that change?

How much medical marijuana can someone legally have? Will that change?

Photo: Josh Trujillo/seattlepi.com File

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The state allows for a 60-day supply, which is defined in Washington Administrative Code as 24 ounces and 15 plants. That won’t change after Initiative 502. The law also states a patient may exceed these limits if he or she can provide medical needs, and King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg has said prosecution will not be brought against someone who more than 15 marijuana plants but can show their own medical need for them. The 60-day supply regulation took effect Nov. 1, 2008. less

The state allows for a 60-day supply, which is defined in Washington Administrative Code as 24 ounces and 15 plants. That won’t change after Initiative 502. The law also states a patient may exceed these ... more

Photo: Josh Trujillo/seattlepi.com File

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Can I grow my own weed?

Can I grow my own weed?

Photo: Getty Images

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No, unless you’re an authorized medical marijuana user.

No, unless you’re an authorized medical marijuana user.

Photo: Getty Images

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What about driving? Can cops take my blood without consent?

What about driving? Can cops take my blood without consent?

Photo: Joe Dyer/seattlepi.com File

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If cops think you’re driving under the influence they can get a blood test without your consent. That’s the case for marijuana, alcohol, prescription drugs, or others. In fall 2009, the state Supreme Court decided it was legal for officers to get a search warrant and force blood draws from people suspected of drunken driving. “Neither due process nor equitable estoppel requires police officers to inform DUI suspects of the possibility of obtaining a warrant to collect evidence,” Justice Susan Owens wrote for the majority. less

If cops think you’re driving under the influence they can get a blood test without your consent. That’s the case for marijuana, alcohol, prescription drugs, or others. In fall 2009, the state Supreme Court ... more

Photo: Joe Dyer/seattlepi.com File

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When can retail outlets sell marijuana in Washington?

When can retail outlets sell marijuana in Washington?

Photo: Joe Dyer/seattlepi.com File

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The ACLU answered this in a question list about I-502: According to the initiative, “the Washington State Liquor Control Board, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Health will have until December 6, 2013 to complete rulemaking that will create a system to license and regulate the production, processing, and sale of marijuana. Commercial businesses can be set up after rulemaking is complete and once a license is obtained.” less

The ACLU answered this in a question list about I-502: According to the initiative, “the Washington State Liquor Control Board, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Health will have until December 6, ... more

Photo: Joe Dyer/seattlepi.com File

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What’s the requirement for where stores will be?

What’s the requirement for where stores will be?

Photo: Joe Dyer/seattlepi.com File

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The initiative allows for stand-alone marijuana businesses to be licensed with similar restrictions to the old state liquor stores and strip clubs. That means they’ll have to be at least 1,000 feet away from schools and parks. The number of marijuana store licenses will also be determined in rulemaking, according to the ACLU, which also addressed this question in their own I-502 FAQ. less

The initiative allows for stand-alone marijuana businesses to be licensed with similar restrictions to the old state liquor stores and strip clubs. That means they’ll have to be at least 1,000 feet away from ... more

Photo: Joe Dyer/seattlepi.com File

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How much will it cost?

How much will it cost?

Photo: Sofia Jaramillo/seattlepi.com File

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The specific retail prices haven’t been set. If you think the tax on booze is tough, don’t expect a break with pot.

The specific retail prices haven’t been set. If you think the tax on booze is tough, don’t expect a break with pot.

Photo: Sofia Jaramillo/seattlepi.com File

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So what is the real issue with what’s next for legal pot?

So what is the real issue with what’s next for legal pot?

Photo: Josh Trujillo/seattlepi.com File

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The Department of Justice’s response. The initiative says that as of Dec. 6, adults in Washington age 21 and older can’t be arrested under state law for possessing limited amounts of marijuana. The DOJ’s discretion is the question, which goes back to the earlier question and what Satterberg said about the state’s rights question likely to be challenged in court. It’ll likely take months for this all to be worked out. less

The Department of Justice’s response. The initiative says that as of Dec. 6, adults in Washington age 21 and older can’t be arrested under state law for possessing limited amounts of marijuana. The DOJ’s ... more

Photo: Josh Trujillo/seattlepi.com File

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Satterberg dismisses all misdemeanor marijuana cases

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King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg has dismissed all misdemeanor marijuana possession cases currently pending in Washington’s largest county.

Taking action following Tuesday’s landmark vote on marijuana legalization, Satterberg said there would be “no point” in continuing to prosecute the 175 people currently facing misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession.

Friday’s announcement followed the passage of Initiative 502, which legalized marijuana possession of one ounce or less in Washington State. The law also called for a legal framework under which marijuana could be grown and sold; both those activities remain illegal outside the medical marijuana industry.

The initiative goes into effect Dec. 6, but Satterberg said he saw no reason to wait to drop the charges.

“Although the effective date of I-502 is not until Dec. 6, there is no point in continuing to seek criminal penalties for conduct that will be legal next month,” Satterberg said in a statement.

Following the prosecutor's decision, King County Sheriff Steve Strachan directed deputies not to arrest or request charges against individuals caught with one ounce or less of marijuana.

“Now that the initiative has passed, and now that the Prosecutor’s Office won’t be charging the individuals, we will also not focus on behavior that will be legal under Washington State law after Dec. 6," Strachan sais in a statement.

Officials in the 12 municipalities that contract with the Sheriff’s Office for police services will have to decide whether to continue enforcing the doomed marijuana law. Friday's decision only affects the deputies working in unincorporated King County.

The Department of Justice has yet to weigh in on the initiative. Some are concerned the federal government may sue the state over legalization, though most agree the Department of Justice won’t be able to force the state to criminalize marijuana possession.